[ad_1]
In Myanmar, military violence has reached a temporary peak in nationwide protests with more than 100 deaths. The United Nations called Saturday the “bloodiest day” since the February 1 military coup.
More than 114 people died on “Armed Forces Day”, as reported by the news portal “Myanmar Now”, citing figures from 44 cities. “The Irrawaddy” also wrote about more than 100 deaths on Sunday, including several children and young people between the ages of five and 15. “The violence is completely unacceptable and must stop immediately,” the UN said. The UN special envoy for human rights in Myanmar accused the army of “mass murder” of his own people.
On the Army’s official memorial day, protests against the takeover broke out in much of the country, including the commercial metropolis of Yangon, the northern Mandalay region and southern Bago. Military personnel and police officers are said to have used live ammunition and headshots against unarmed civilians.
“The bloodshed is terrible”
Federal Chancellor Heiko Maas (SPD) announced on Sunday that the images and news from the country were “deeply shocking.” The EU has made it clear that it will not accept the brutal repression against the people of Myanmar and has imposed sanctions on the military junta.
US President Joe Biden condemned the brutal actions of the security forces. “It’s horrible,” Biden said Sunday in his home state of Delaware. “It is absolutely outrageous and, according to the information I have, many people died completely unnecessarily.”
The military leaders of about a dozen countries, including the United States, Britain, Japan and South Korea, jointly condemned the violence of the military junta. “A professional army follows international standards of conduct and is responsible for protecting, not harming, the people it serves,” said the unusual joint statement released Sunday. The military leaders called on the Myanmar army to “stop the violence.”
The diplomatic representatives reacted with horror. The European Union spoke on social media about a day of “terror and disgrace”. Killing children and unarmed civilians is unforgivable. The US ambassador also condemned the actions of the military: “The bloodshed is horrible,” Thomas Vajda wrote on Twitter. The Myanmar military has embarrassed itself by shooting at “unarmed civilians,” British Ambassador Dan Chugg wrote on Twitter. “Today’s killings of unarmed civilians, including children, mark a new low,” tweeted British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
According to the state agency Tass, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin also participated in the parade. Consequently, Russia and Myanmar want to strengthen their relations. Both states wanted to develop military and military-technical cooperation, Tass said. MIF called Myanmar a “reliable ally and strategic partner in Southeast Asia and the Pacific.” Myanmar’s commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing said Russia was a “true friend,” according to the BBC.
Russian media reported that in addition to Russia, countries such as China, India, Pakistan, Vietnam and Thailand had also sent representatives. Russia’s invitation was a reaction to Myanmar’s participation in the military parade in Russia last summer. Russia is reportedly Myanmar’s second largest arms supplier after China. The United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom imposed sanctions following the military coup on February 1.
Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces defends inauguration
A 21-year-old civilian named Chit Bo Nyein is believed to be among the victims in Yangon. Nyein helped out at his family’s tea shop when he was shot, said a family member from the German press agency. According to estimates by the prison aid organization AAPP, nearly 3,070 people have been detained so far. At least 328 died, according to the AAPP.
The military had carried out a coup against the de facto head of government, Aung San Suu Kyi, in early February. The 75-year-old man has been under house arrest since then and has been charged with various crimes by the judiciary. The protesters call for the restoration of the civil government of Suu Kyi.
In a speech in the capital Naypidaw, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Min Aung Hlaing, defended the military takeover as “inevitable” because the government of Suu Kyi and his party were involved in “illegal acts”. He stated that he wanted to protect democracy and again promised to hold elections, but without giving a date.
New protests on Sunday
People also took to the streets on Sunday. Images were shared on social media that the security forces continued to crack down on the resistance. According to media reports, there were again deaths.
According to the media, police officers and soldiers shot at mourners present at the funeral of a murdered student in southern Bago. In Yangon, the army is said to have fired at residential buildings in districts where protests occur repeatedly. “People are now afraid to go out and some are injured,” said a 24-year-old resident of the dpa. In Mandalay, dozens of houses were reported to have caught fire that morning.
According to estimates by the prison aid organization AAPP, nearly 3,070 people have been detained so far. At least 423 died, according to the AAPP.
